These 15 wood panelling stairs ideas will help to raise the roof in your home… a charming and timeless addition that will add value, and depth to a hallway.
Whether you have a small hallway, or an expansive space. Wood panelling stairs can be a great way to add interest and break up the monotony of plain walls. It’s a decorating style that’s suitable for new build properties, to grade listed buildings as there is so many ways to do it.
Looking for some inspiration? These wood panelling stairs ideas include modern, to traditional styles to help you deliver the appropriate finish for your interior.
15 Wood Panelling Stairs Ideas
1. Panelling Wallpaper
One of the easiest ways to achieve the timeless look of wood panelling stairs is with panelling wallpaper.
With minimal DIY involved, and no wall damage occurred in the process, this is perhaps the easiest way yet to deliver character and depth to a wall, in an affordable and easy way.
Just like panelling with wood, there are lots of different styles of panelling wallpaper available so you can still choose the perfect style of panelling for your stairway.
2. Black Half Wall Panelling
Half wall panelling is a great choice for hallways, it stops a small hallway feeling oppressive, yet it still delivers timeless style to the space.
Black can be a smart choice in modern, Scandic and eclectic style interiors, it delivers a grounding aspect to the bottom half of the wall, yet doesn’t feel too moody in the space when paired with an upper bright white wall in a staircase design. It’s also a very forgiving colour for a high traffic area!
3. Shiplap Panelling
Shiplap style panelling is always a good idea! Whether you choose shiplap or tongue and groove panelling, these two classic styles deliver a perfectly finished look that doesn’t require much else to complete the space.
The result is a classic look that won’t feel dated in a few years time. This style is great for many design styles from coastal, farmhouse and modern to traditional style.
4. Wood Slat Wall Panelling
Slatwall panelling delivers the most gorgeous finish to a hallway. You wouldn’t want to feature this throughout an entire hallway, but little pockets to create a defined area can look incredible.
Add to your stairway to elevate the hallway, a half wall panelling style is enough to appreciate the depth of this look.
5. Half Wall Panelling With A Bold Pop of Colour
If you really want to create panelling for hallways and stairs that people don’t forget, then this is it. A half wall panelling design lends itself to have an additional colour on the top half, but adding wallpaper instead brings a whole new aesthetic to the hallway.
Combine with a wallpaper that tonally matches the bottom shade in some way so that it creates a cohesive look, or go for a bright white underneath to help the wallpaper pop in the space.
6. Traditional Panelling
Traditional wainscoting is an elegant, luxurious look for a traditional property, or one with a transitional style. It’s best reserved for properties with high ceilings that are able to carry the height of the panelling.
Create a dramatic look on your stairs with black, or keep things neutral with a white or earthy shade.
7. Sage Green Panelling
Sage Green is the new on trend colour that is sweeping interiors, and it looks sensational on this half wall panelling.
It brings such a tranquil air to the space which balances beautifully with the bright wall upper half of the wall. Match the bannister with the same sage green sage for a cohesive feel or add a defining black bannister for a modern setting.
8. Bright White Panelling
If you have a narrow hallway, classic bright white half wall panelling designs will lift your stairs, and bring an airy aesthetic with it. Finish off with a bold colour above to keep the space visually interesting.
Bright white can be a great colour for an interior, but in a high traffic area it’s not the best shade if you have pets and children as it will show every fingerprint, mark and scuff.
9. Add Black Accents For Definition
Elevate your wood panelling stairs one step further by adding a picture rail, or painted line in a defining black shade. This will create a boundary with the panelling in your hallway, whilst working beautifully with modern design.
Add some other well placed black items throughout the hallway to tie the room cohesively together.
10. Floor To Ceiling Panelling
Keep things traditional with floor to ceiling panelling for hallways. This type of wainscoting is elegant, luxurious and brings a traditional air with it.
For those high ceilinged properties, this type of wall panelling is a beautiful choice.
11. Timeless Grey Panelling
The right stair panelling can transform any staircase wall. You can’t go wrong with a timeless grey panelling. Not only does panelling add depth, drama and personality to homes, but it also frames the space and creates fluidity between floors.
Grey is a great colour in a range of decor schemes from modern to Scandic style homes, you may choose to swatch a few colours before you start painting so you can see how the shades look in light at different times of the day.
12. Block Colour With A Dado Rail
Keep things simple in your stairway by adding a simple dado rail. Not only does this limit costs, and DIY involved, but it looks just as effective in adding depth to this section.
Paint the underneath section and the picture rail in a bold colour to ground the space.
13. Modern, Off White Panelling
Bright white just isn’t a practical colour for a high traffic hallway, yet you can still keep the room feeling neutral and warm with another alternative.
Off white shades such as cream and mushroom are great alternatives that are more forgiving on the stairs, and they bring a beautiful warmth and versatility with it.
14. Pink Panelling
Pink is always a good idea! For the right home decor scheme, a dusty pink shade like this creates such a welcoming and inviting look that pairs beautifully with brassy accessories and black, defining items.
Opt for a half wall panelling style to introduce a different aesthetic on the upper half. A perfect place to introduce a different colour or some texture with a fun wallpaper.
15. Square, Traditional Style Panelling
There are so many different wall panelling ideas that will suit every decor style, and this square style panelling is a much more modern look than the traditional wainscoting. It looks amazing in a hallway setting like this painted in a defining colour.
This style of panelling suits farmhouse, country style, modern and traditional interiors.
Stair panelling has been enduringly popular for centuries, and it really is one of the best ways to deliver instant depth and personality to a hallway.
From selecting the right colours to choosing between modern and traditional looks, these 15 wood panelling styles have hopefully helped to inspire the next panelling project in your hallway! Which wood panelling stairs ideas is your favourite?
